Disclaimer: I don't own Dragonball Z

A/N: I can't believe there are only 3 chapters left after this one. This story has taken over two years to write. BTW the couple whose wedding I attended before writing chapter 6 have just had their first baby! Sorry about the huge gap. I've been working on some original fiction for the past few months. I've completed my first draft so I can now focus on this again.

Chapter 26

Back To Earth

Watching his father crawl on his hands and knees was something that would stay with Gohan for the rest of his life. They were desperately trying to avoid being stepped on by either Appura or Kuda as the two Oozaru fought each other. But it was hard. Vegeta could barely move and Tarble had to be carried. This Hakai poison was dangerously effective. Gohan didn't feel as strong or as steady as he was used to. His vision blurred a little every time he swivelled his head. His hearing seemed lessened and his sense of smell wasn't as strong. He was human, everything Saiyan had been taken away. And he had never been so thrilled to be half-human. If he had been wholly Saiyan, he would have been crawling on his hands and knees too.

He threw his arms up to shield his face as Appura's tail smashed into the side of the building. Help had to come soon. Sooner or later, someone was going to get crushed under the feet of either Kuda or Appura. There was a great howl as Appura's claws scratched Kuda's face. It almost disguised the sound of someone calling Gohan's name. Almost. Gohan stared around, struggling to find the source without his Saiyan senses.

"Gohan! Gohan!" Then he saw it. Blue hair, bright eyes. Bulma! She dashed across the rubble caused by Kuda and Appura's fight, narrowly avoiding falling debris. She finally reached them. Vegeta reached out a hand to his wife. She dropped to her knees and kissed his face gently before turning to Gohan.

"Gohan, we saw everything," she said, "We know you've been dosed with the Hakai. Don't worry. There is a plan! King Kai is bringing in some help. When Kuda's distracted, Piccolo will come in and help you get away. We'll meet up with you later and come up with a plan."

"Kabu…" Gohan's mind raced to his son.

"He's with your mom, he's fine," said Bulma, "I've got to get back to them. Try to stay clear of the Oozaru. I've got to get back to Chi-Chi and come up with a plan to get Appura back to normal." She looked back to her husband.

"I love you, Vegeta. Just a little more time," she whispered, stroking the side of his face before tearing off back across the battlefield.

"Alright," said Goku, suddenly energetic at the sight of his friend, "Let's keep moving!" He lurched back onto all fours and the odd little group started heading for the corner of the square that looked the least affected. They made a good pace, better than before but still measly. There was a roar and one of the Oozaru stumbled backwards into a building. Rubble rained down upon them. Vegeta lurched forward and Gohan stepped backwards. However, Goku was right in its path. He stared up at the large chunks of brick, mortar and glass hurtled towards him, unable to move from fear. A hand closed around the back of his neck and tugged him out of the way just seconds before the building materials hit the ground.

Goku climbed onto his hands and knees again, slowly, painfully, turning his head to look at his saviour. For a moment, he thought he was looking at a mirror until he noticed the long scar down the cheek and the red tie around the head.

"Who…who are…" he started when the stranger suddenly lurched at him.

"Look out!" the stranger cried, grabbing Goku and rolling them to safety, away from the foot of an Oozaru.

"Dad! Dad!" a voice cried out as Goku's vision blurred and he struggled to focus, "Daddy!" An orange and blue blur leapt into his arms.

"Goten?" he said.

"It's me, Dad, don't worry, we're going to save you!" Goten said, "Piccolo's on his way. Gohan, come on, we need you."

Gohan put down Tarble slowly, staring at the stranger. The stranger smiled. It was bizarre, it looked like his dad but wasn't.

"Come on…Gohan?" the stranger said. Gohan nodded and moved towards him.

"All we have to do, is distract Kuda until the Namek can get here," the stranger informed him, "The Namek will get your father and the Princes out of the city and we'll follow."

"I've been hit with the Hakai," Gohan said, "I'm running on my human half."

"Your human half is stronger than you think," the stranger said, "I've already seen your mother taking on two soldiers by herself."

"Sounds like her," said Gohan, "Who are you?"

"I'm Bardock, your grandfather," said the stranger.

'Well, that explains a lot,' Gohan thought.

"What do you need me to do?" he asked.

"We'll need to attack from different angles," said Bardock, "If we all stand together, he'll just swat us like flies. You'll attack from the ground, Trunks and Goten will attack his back and chest, I'll take the head." Gohan nodded.

"I believe in you, Gohan," Bardock said, patting Gohan's shoulder, "Let's go." He let go of Gohan and jumped into the air, heading straight up behind the largest Oozaru. Trunks and Goten were already dancing around Kuda.

"Gohan, now!" Piccolo's voice came from behind him. Gohan snuck a glance over his shoulder. Piccolo had Tarble on his back and was holding Vegeta and Goku by the wrist.

"Ka…me…ha…me…haa!" Gohan yelled, concentrating on channelling his ki to his hands and forcing it at Kuda, the other attacks coming just a fraction of a second later.

"Kamehameha!" screamed Goten.

"Super Explosive Wave!" was Trunks.

"Final Revenger!" came from Bardock, a massive burst of energy erupting from his hands, striking Kuda on the head. The Oozaru roared, waving it's arms erratically, trying to swat at the Saiyans. Gohan felt the rush of air on the back of his neck as Piccolo took off. His foot slipped, his ki flickered and died.

"Go, go, go!" Bardock cried. Trunks and Goten swooped down, each hooking an arm around one of Gohan's and helping him up into the air. They heard a second, higher-pitched roar from the Oozaru. Kuda had stumbled and his foot was now firmly planted on Appura's with his hand at the base. He was pulling. He was going to remove her tail.

"We have to go back for her!" Gohan cried.

"No!" barked Bardock, "She'll find us, now, c'mon." He sped up, forcing Trunks and Goten to match him.

Gohan saw Piccolo first. He was stood in the beams of a car's headlights. He stumbled a little as they landed. Goten held him up as Chester, Appura's friend came running up, instructing him to sit down.

"Piccolo said they dosed you with the Hakai," Chester said, shining a small light in Gohan's eyes, "It takes twenty-four hours to wear off, but with you being half-human…I don't know what it'll do."

"Thanks, Chester," Gohan said, "Did Mom and Bulma make it out?"

"We don't know," Piccolo said, "We didn't see them when we left."

"Our attack didn't work," said Gohan, "Kuda's still destroying the city." He felt the twinge in his mind that signalled the arrival of someone. Trunks, Goten and Bardock all swivelled their heads to look back towards the city. There was a yellow streak in the sky, heading right for them. Bardock started to power up.

"No, it's my sister!" cried Trunks, grabbing Bardock's arm.

Appura landed a little haphazardly, on one knee. She kept her back to the group, her clothes having been destroyed in her transformation. She had a bloody smear across her back where her tail had been removed. Chester had run up to her immediately, cleaning the blood with antiseptic wipes from his first aid kit and giving her some old clothes to wear. Once cleaned up and dressed, she informed them that Bulma and Chi-Chi had been recaptured by the army.

"And Kabu?" Gohan asked.

"No sign of him or Yamcha," she said, "With any luck, they're miles away." She turned to her father.

"Dad, are you ok?" she asked, "I missed you."

"I'm fine," Vegeta said. Appura spotted Bardock.

"Who's this?" she asked.

"Oh, allow me to introduce, Bardock," said Goten, "My grandfather." He grinned at the last part. Goku's jaw dropped.

"You're…you're my father?" he said. Bardock nodded.

"It's good to see you again, my son," he said, smiling, "Last time I saw you, you were a new born."

"King Kai sent us to fetch him," explained Trunks, "Thinks he'll be able to help."

"Fat lot of good it did," Appura muttered.

"You know, you shouldn't mumble," Gohan said, "It's rude and without him, your father would have been crushed underneath falling rubble."

"Shut up, Gohan," Appura spat.

"Is this because we didn't kill Kuda?" Gohan asked, standing up, "I'm sorry, Princess, but you never defeat the bad guy the first time."

"We accomplished nothing!" Appura shouted, making Trunks and Goten taking a step backwards, "We didn't kill Kuda, we didn't get Kabu back and Bulma is still in prison!"

"Kami, you're such a brat sometimes," Gohan fumed. He was tired, frustrated at not being at full strength. It put him on edge.

"I'm a brat? I didn't leave because things started to get hard," Appura said, "You're just like your father."

Trunks stared at his feet and Goten clamped his hands over his ears as Gohan and Appura began yelling over each other. No one could work out what either of them was saying.

"That's enough!" barked Vegeta. The two young Saiyans spun on their heels and turned their backs on each other.

"What the hell has happened to you two?" Vegeta asked, his eyes flicking between them. Appura snorted and stalked off. Gohan paused for a moment before heading in the opposite direction. Vegeta turned to his son.

"Son, what happened?" his voice was soft for Vegeta. Trunks blinked and looked at him.

"They broke up…" Trunks said, "Appura told Gohan to go and he left."